The 60-foot Velocity motored out of Santa Cruz harbor Monday afternoon under mostly sunny skies. On deck was an apprehensive crew — scientists with research group SRI International of Menlo Park, observers from the Department of Energy and financiers with the Tokyo-based Hyper Drive Corp.

As the boat began to bob up and down after clearing the breakwater, and the stomachs of those with weaker constitutions began to churn, the day’s mission became all the more clear: to see the wave motion go to work making electricity.

You can email humboldt@surfrider.org and check back here on the blog for updates. The forum is on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Hotel Arcata conference room. More details soon. Thanks for your interest!